Restaurants

Hoops fans live for March and the three-week-long tournament among the best college basketball teams — think the excitement of Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mardi Gras all in one. These hoops-and-hops spots are slam-dunks for celebrating a W with a pint — or to commiserate a bracket bust with a pitcher. Let the tipoffs begin at one of these top restaurants for the college basketball championships!

Tony C’s Sports Bar & Grill, Somerville, Massachusetts
Massive walls of 90 HD-TVs and a four-sided Jumbotron in an 11,000-square-foot space, hoops fans huddle here for the tournament. A roster of forty beers on tap and a scratch kitchen that delivers American comfort food like chicken wings and tenders (buffalo or honey barbecue), Parmesan truffle fries, lobster macaroni and cheese, and Tony’s signature #25 burger (Vermont cheddar, crispy pork belly, fried egg, and smokey hoisin sauce on a sesame brioche bun). Half-priced apps at “Appy Hour” are served from 10:30 to 11:30 every night. Score! Can’t make it to Somerville? Cheer on your teams at any of Tony C’s Boston-area locations. Make a reservation at Tony C’s Sports Bar & Grill.

Public House, Chicago, Illinois
This 10,000-square-foot gastropub sports 12 signature table tap booths with beer and liquor taps with customization capabilities. Translation: You can pour your own beers or cocktails without getting up and risking a missed foul, tipoff, or slam dunk. Chances are slim you’d miss anything: a 30-foot video screen spans the length of the bar, so you’ll practically be courtside when rooting for your teams. And, there are 27 additional screens throughout the space. Drink specials include $25 Bud Light bucket specials and $6 Kentucky fire shots. Make a reservation at Public House.

Moxie’s Grill & Bar, Dallas, Texas
This Canadian chain restaurant has those requisite hi-def TV’s, and just as important, perfect-for-sharing apps like sushi cones (tempura shrimp with fresh avocado, pea shoots, nori crisps and sesame chili ponzu), crispy dry rib tips (dry, bone-in-pork button ribs with biryani rub or sea salt and cracked pepper), and chicken wings (with a biryani rub, salt and pepper and honey garlic.) Local beers are available, too. Bonus: The restaurant is open until 2AM weekends for late night games and until midnight Sundays through Wednesdays. There is also a Houston location. Make a reservation at Moxie’s Grill & Bar.

City Works, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Basketball bites and brews — 90-plus craft beers on tap and shareable plates like The Works (a four-pound dish of tater tots, pepper jack cheese sauce, smoked pork shoulder, blackened chicken, beer-battered shrimp, cheese curds, and more). Some nailbiter games will call for a Bloody — order the Churchill Bloody Mary (spicy house mix with Tito’s Handmade Vodka crowned with a loaded skewer of cubed pepper jack cheese, grilled shrimp, a cornichon, a cherry tomato, a Gibson cocktail onion, and a Slim Jim stir stick, served in a 20-ounce goblet with a Chesapeake Bay-seasoned rim.) Go, team! Check out the other five locations, too. Make a reservation at City Works.

Old Town Pour House, Chicago, Illinois
Walls of TVs and 90-plus craft beers on tap are two reasons to make this sports restaurant your home court for watching all the b-ball madness. Other reasons: a video DJ, branded fan towels to show your colors, and Oskar Blues Brewery’s Mama’s Little Yella Pils (a 4.7 percent ABV beer built with 100 percent pale malt, specialty malts, and Saaz hops) — ideal for drinking during long hours of clapping or drowning your sorrows. Now through April 2, beers are just $6 a pour. Make a reservation at Old Town Pour House.

Penguins and bunnies and bears, oh my! Bartenders are offering up cocktails in a zoo-worthy array of animal-shaped glasses. These five sips will let you get in touch with your wild side this #ThirstyThursday.

Smokey the Bear at Arbella, Chicago, Illinois
Only you can prevent forest fires, which won’t be an issue if you’re sitting in Chicago drinking this cocktail. Made with habanero-infused mezcal, aperitivo, lemon, and yellow chartreuse, it’s got a slow burn. To give it a hazy head, the bear-y bevvie gets a hit of hickory smoke. Make a reservation at Arbella.

Copper Bunny at Compère Lapin, New Orleans, Louisiana
Wanna get hopped up? Try this cottontail cocktail made with Absolut Elyx, pineapple-jalapeño tequila, fresh ginger and lime, and a Champagne float. Bugs Bunny would surely approve. Make a reservation at Compère Lapin.

Teasy Bear at Pubbelly Sushi, Miami, Florida
You’ll definitely want to Instagram this un-bear-ably cute cocktail. It tastes as good as it looks, forged from Junmai sake, green tea, honey, and ginger. Just please don’t steal the glass when you’ve finished. Make a reservation at Pubbelly Sushi.

Los Pinguinos at El Che Bar, Chicago, Illinois
This Argentinian eatery uses penguin-shaped pitchers for its large-format cocktail, which changes seasonally. Currently, it holds sangria made with a blend of wines, Peruvian brandy, orange juice, citrus cordial, and sparkling cider. Penguins can’t fly, but you’ll think you’re able to if you finish a batch all by yourself. Make a reservation at El Che Bar.

St. Patrick’s Day has more traditions than a leprechaun has gold – from dyeing the Chicago River bright green and boisterous parades soundtracked by bagpipes to putting shamrocks on everything and dressing up as the verdant saint. This year, restaurants are getting into the celebrations for the Apostle of Ireland on Saturday, March 17 and beyond by offering up traditional Irish fare, such as corned beef and cabbage – which became a staple in Irish-American homes in the early 19th century because both components were affordable and plentiful – fish and chips, and shepherd’s pie (also called cottage pie, the classic Gaelic dish sports beef or lamb stewed in gravy with root vegetables and topped off with a layer of mashed potatoes). To wash it all down, there are cocktails highlighting Irish whiskeys and an ocean of Guinness – roughly 3 million pints are consumed that day alone and chefs love using it to fortify their dishes because you can never have too much stout when you’re toasting St. Paddy.

So, get into the spirit at these nine restaurants, which are offering up festive specials to help diners honor St. Patrick one sip and one bite at a time.

Trace, Austin, Texas
Get in the spirit of St. Paddy’s at the Get Lucky Brunch on Saturday, March 17 from 10:30AM-3PM. Enjoy themed cocktails – including Shamrock Shots, Bloody Whiskey Business, and Slainta Mar O’Rita – plenty of brunch fare, prizes for lucky guests, and music by Kid Slyce. Make a reservation at Trace.

Booth One, Chicago, Illinois
Say dia dhui (hello) to the Pump Room Grasshopper. Made with crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream, it’s sure to get you hopped up for St. Patrick’s Day. Make a reservation at Booth One.

The Palm Court, New York, New York
Indulge in a St. Patrick’s Day Afternoon Tea from Friday, March 16 through Sunday, March 19 from 12-5PM. Get in the party spirit with Gaelic cocktails, including the lemon-kissed Shamrock Sour powered by Jameson Irish whiskey and a touch of Midori melon liqueur. Plus, there are eats galore – from mini corned beef sandwiches and Irish smoked salmon open-faced sandwiches to scones, Irish coffee fudge, and a decadent Bailey’s chocolate cream roll. Bonus: On Saturday, March 17 from 12-4:30PM there will be a performance from celebrated Irish harpist Erin Hill, who has played with Kanye West, Sinead O’Connor, and Enya. Make a reservation at The Palm Court.

Wildebeest, Vancouver, British Columbia
Start off by knocking back a pint of locally brewed Persephone dry Irish stout and a shot of Jameson Caskmates. Properly fortified, you can then enjoy Irish-inspired fare, like a Guinness doughnut with whiskey caramel, smoked sockeye salmon on brown bread slathered with dill cream cheese, and a full Irish breakfast. Available on Saturday, March 17 only. Make a reservation at Wildebeest.

Le Zoo, Bal Harbour, Florida
Get busy with this swizzy! Made with Velvet Falernum, green chartreuse, pineapple juice, and lime juice the Chartreuse Swizzle is the perfect way to toast the day. Make a reservation at Le Zoo.

Beatrix, Chicago, Illinois
Sweet tooths looking to get into the St. Patrick’s spirit should look no further. These clover-shaped cookies are ridiculously cute and super delicious. Make a reservation at Beatrix.

Bangers and mash. Fish and chips. Hearty scones. Ireland’s not exactly renowned for its waist-friendly fare—but that’s all changing with a dynamic Dublin food scene that recognizes contemporary trends while honoring local producers and purveyors. Here are top Dublin restaurants serving healthy options this St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.

The Cellar Bar at the Merrion Hotel
Those are microgreens, not shamrocks, on top of Cellar Bar’s vegan salad. Ho-hum pub grub would be burgers and fries, but here, chef Ed Cooney whips up healthy (and often, hearty) fare using local ingredients. Check out the salad with chai and hemp seeds, squash, beets, avocado, broccoli, pomegranate with an almond lime and chile dressing. There’s also the skinny soup with a multigrain bread, as well as the fillet of turbot – all healthy pairings when washed back with a glass of wine or a pint. Make a reservation at The Cellar Bar at the Merrion Hotel.

Rustic Stone by Dylan McGrath
Seasonal ingredients sing and Michelin-starred McGrath lets their flavors shine without using much sugar and cream, with a menu that’s 90 percent gluten- and wheat-free, and 70 percent dairy-free. The results are vibrant colors, textures, and flavors, including the boisterous beetroot salad: Shaved fennel, baby gems, floppy lettuce, avocado, radicchio, chicory with pink grapefruit, pink radish, dill, beetroot, and caramel pine nut are dressed in its own beetroot juice split with heart-healthy olive oil. Make a reservation at Rustic Stone by Dylan McGrath.

Stir
It may feature bangers and potatoes, but the Dublin Coddle is the original food “recycling”—a savory casserole of leftovers meant so that nothing is wasted. Stir’s version is wonderfully browned and the spuds slices of heaven. The Coddle is a special addition to Stir’s menu for St. Patrick’s Day. Make a reservation at Stir.

Sova Food Vegan Butcher
A great fit for vegans and veggies — or those just celebrating meatless Mondays — Sova’s bites look as good as they are for you. Bloody-good seitan steak is served with truffled mashed potatoes, pepper sauce, and kale crisps. Or, try the roasted cauliflower soup with cucumber and cashew salsa, or potato gnocchi with mushrooms and saffron ragu, both available on the lunch and dinner menus. Make a reservation at Sova Food Vegan Butcher.

Events

Caroline Potter is the Chief Dining Officer for OpenTable, Inc. She’s a dining trend-spotter and an OpenTable VIP, who dines out more than she eats in and has accrued more than 10,000 Dining Rewards points. Caroline started working in restaurants as a teen and she’s since tackled every front-of-the-house job, from bartender and hostess to runner and server. She trained as a chef at Manhattan’s prestigious French Culinary Institute, cooking at L’Ecole. In addition to her role at OpenTable, she has written about food from farm to table for New York City’s famed Greenmarket and Edible Brooklyn and Edible East End magazines. Caroline is also a Certified Master Gardener.